Weighing device



May 12, 1953 H. F. coFFEY 2,638,304

WEIGHING DEVICE:

HENRY F'. COT-'FEV ATTORNEY.

May 12, 1953 y H. F. coF-FEY 2,538,304

WEIGHING DEVICE Filed March 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY F. COI-FEV BY Ma@ ATTORNEY.

Patented May 12, 1953 WEIGHING DEVICE Henry F. Coffey, Indianapolis, Ind., assigner to Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation` of Indiana Applicltim March 22, 1949, Serial No'. 82,869

1 Claim. (CI. 249-3) This invention relates generally to weighing machines and more particularly to a machine of this character especially adapted to weigh relatively small quantities. of powdery or pulverulent materials.

Therapeutic uses of penicillin and other powdered medicinals, particularly antibiotics, require that they be reduced to an extremely une powder form. When agitated or vibrated as in velg-hing machines, these powdery substances are markedly affected by static charges which tend to cause their particles tov form lumps or irregularly sized agglomerates. This tendency to ball up or clingtogether in clusters presents considerable dimculties in repetitively weighing relatively small dose amounts with precision. Such Weighlng operations, to be commercially satisfactory, demand not only a very high degree of accuracy to meet the stringent quantitative of the de, but demand as well that the operations be carried out in rapid, repetitive succession with optimum dose uniformity and in mass production manner. Generally, heretofore, ity hasv been necessary towelgh small dosesof iinely powdered medicinals by costly, time consuming laborious hand methods.

litA is an object of the present invention to pro.- vide a relatively simple.v compact, and. inexpensive apparatus which permits of' the` facile and ac.- curate weighing of small quantities of ilnely powdered materials in. rapid,V successive, `weighing operations, and in such manner as to. insure an extremely high degree of uniformity in weight between successive quantitative doses.

A further object of the invention is to,- eliminate the impeding eiect of static. charges onthe speed and accuracy of weighing fine. powders.

with these and incidental objects vievn. the invention consists in. certain novel; features of construction and combinations ot parts. the essential elements of; which. are. set form in appended claim and a. preferred embodiment; of which is hereinafter described with; reference to the.4 drawingsA lnthe: drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the: improved weighing apparatus with certain of; the parts beine showmin phantom and. others being broken awayforclearness, and

2.- is o.-A diagrammatic view' ofi the` apparatus mdtheelectricalcirmuttherefon..

Referring now to Fig. l., the apparatus: comprisas an, upright supportiiclgA post I-Ilwhich may be secured at its lower end tothe uppen'f'ace-of acasin, il and; rigidly at. its end in any suitable manner. A bracket I2 secured to post I0 has forwardly projecting arms I3 that are notched at their forward ends to receive ou-twardly extending diametrically opposed pins I4 secured on the outer wall of a material containing hopper I5 which is adapted to be loosely embraced by arms I3 when the pins I4 are mounted in the notches of the arms as shown in Fig. 1. Hopper I5 is provided at its upper end with a cover plate Ii and at its lower end has integrally connected therewith` a depending funnel-shaped base portion. Il. The extreme lower end` oi base portion Il serves as a dischargel end for the powdery material.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a fine mesh screen. t8 of wire or other suitable; material is: mounted within a discharge orifice t9. The of screen |18 is preferably such that its openings are of a size greater than the size of' the discretev particles composing saidpowder; but are yet of such size that theyv normallyk are bridged by such particles due to the inherent tendency of the latter tooling together; A screen on the order of IIS'- mesh has been found satisfactory for weighing 420- mg. amounts of' penicillin. An electrically operated vibra-tor 20 supported by a bracket 21 secured to post Ilv has its vibrating element in engagement with the funnel-shaped portion f1? of hopper I5. A third bracket 23 affixed to post I U above bracket lf2 supports an electrically driven motor 24 in operative position abovev cover plate I B". The shaft of motor 2d has connected thereto a depend-crank 2.5' which is' arranged to engage with a laterally proiectingv arm 2%6 of a vertically' disposed shaft 2II which extendsv through a bearing 28 in cover plate IS.. Shaft 2.1` extends vertically throughout the entire depth of hopper I5 and has secured 'at its lower end, horizontally disposed, radially projecting, wiper blades 29' the lower edges of which rest in slight wiping contact upon the surface of screen. I8.

'Ihe weighing. portion of the: apparatus suhstantially entirely enclosed withincasing I;IA and comprises a horizontally disposed. shaft :illv suitably journaled at. its oppositei endsI inA the.y side walls of the-casing, A spring beam-,generally indicated atV 3l and. comprising ai spring section; 32 of copper beryllium or other suitabley flexiblematerial andV a beamV section 33- of magnesium or other light materia-1. is afxed. tov shaft 3 05 as by securingv oneend ofV spring sectionv 32y to the. shaft as clearly shown in 1 and 2-. The forward endi of beam. section 33 extendsl througlt a slot 34 providedina the forwardi endtofcasing I Ic.- di;` that pointwhere beanrsection: 13 lies; directly' beneath orifice, I9 of hopper I5. this section 133 is bifurcated and formed to removably receive a scoop 35 having a pour end 36 and a handle end 31. Scoop 35 is formed of aluminum or similar lightweight material.

Referring to Fig. 1, the inner end of shaft 30 has secured thereto as by means of a screw 38 an adjusting lever 39. The forward end 48 of adjustment lever 39\ extends between two manually operable adjusting screws 4I threaded in a C-shaped bracket 42 affixed to the inner side of casing II. A stop 54 suitably mounted upon a vertically disposed adjusting screw 55 is mounted for rotation in casing II. yBy turning ,screw 55, stop 54 may be raised or lowered and serves to provide a limit stop to arrest the extent'of upward movement of beam 3|. By manipulating screws 4I, lever 39 is movedv upwardly or downwardly to rotate shaft 30 to adjust the tension lof spring 32 of spring beam 3| to a degree such that the beam restsagainststop 54 with proper tension.

It should be noted that the total mass of spring beam 3| and scoop 35 is distributed as 'uniformly as possible and does not exceed the 'minimum mass required to maintain the parts in proper functioning order. The amplitude of -oscillation of the beam is, by the adjustment means just described, reduced to an over-al1 distance on the order of le of one inch for weighing 'dose amounts on the order of 4' grams to `120 milligrams. A'lhese minima of mass and oscillation' range make possible high speed and accuracy in successively repeated weighing operations.

Referring to Fig. 2, spring beam 3| has secured intermediate its ends, a depending vane 43 of aluminum orl other suitable diamagnetic, light-weight material. .Vane 43 constitutes one element of la conventional electro-mechanical control apparatus of standard and well known construction -suchA as an Electr-O-Vane con- `trol, a product of the Brown Instrument Cornlpany. -When spring beam 3| is in its normal upper, undeflected position, i. e., resting against stop 54, Vane 43 will lie at an elevationwhere it is lsubstantially above the space provided between two electrical eld producing elements 44 (Fig. l). When Vane 43 is lowered a distance ,suicient to materially intercept the electrical field produced by the elements 44, such interception causes a pair of normally closed contacts 45 (Fig. 2) contained in the Electr-O-Vane control to be opened.. The adjustment of the spring tension of the beam by stop 54, lever 39 and screws 4I is preferably set so that a deflection of lThe opposite terminals of motor 24 and vibrator,

are connected to the opposite side 50 of the line. 'A- signal lamp -49 is connected across sides f4`| and 50 of the line in such manner as to be ,z with its yico only'under the-control of contacts 45 and main "switch 48. However, vibrator 20 and motor 24- are connected in parallel for control by pushbutton switchI 46, contacts 45 and main line switch 48. A holding relay 5I having a pair of normally open' contacts 52 is connected, together acts 52,' across the sides 4'I and 50 of 175 .formed'as follows:

the line in such manner as to bridge the contacts of push-button switch 46.

Operation Assuming that hopper I5 has been lled with penicillin or other fine powdery medicament material, the operation of the apparatus is per- The operator first closes the main line switch 48. This causes signal light 49 to be lighted. Switch 46 is then depressed to closed position.

lThis causes energization of relay 5| whereupon holding contacts 52 are closed and hold closed be performed on the present apparatus button switch 46.

Immediately upon the closing of switch 46, energization of relay 5I and closing of contacts 52, vibrator 20 is actuated and motor 24 is vstarted to drive crank 25 in rotation. Vibrator 20 serves to vibrate and fagitate the finely divided powdery substance downwardly tothe funnelshaped portion I'l of hopper I5. Itis believed that the minute particles of powder become `so compacted lthat at approximately theline vindi-- cated by the reference numeral 53 it forms a bridge leaving a relatively clear space or, at leastl a space wherein the powder lies less densely compacted beneath this line. In any `event a certain quantity of the powder is agitated downwardly in the Vicinity of wiper blades 29 and screen I8. Since crank 25 is driven in rotation by motor 24 and since the crank is connected -to rotate shaft 21, blades 29 will .be driven in rotation to force powdery material through the Ascreen and out through the discharge orifice I9.

By positively forcing the powder material out through' fine wiie mesh screen IB'any lumps o1 agglomerates are broken up and reduced into substantially their original particle form and lthus the deleterious effect of static charges upon the particles are positively overcome. The powder passes through the relatively short air space between the discharge orice I9 and the receiving orifice of scoop 35. As the powder descends into currently, lamp 49, vibrator 20and motor 24 are shut off, thus shutting off discharge of powder from hopper I5. -This shut-off occurs substantially concurrentlywith the full quantity of the dose amount being received in the scoop 35, the

`amount of powder still in midair at thev time of 'cut-off assisting in completing the predeter mined amount of powder.

`Following this, the operator dumps the scoop vinto a suitable medicament container and then replaces the scoop upon the beam in readiness to perform the next weighing operation, which is initiated by merely depressing push-button switch `46.

With such a precision apparatus as described in the foregoing and particularly in View of the stringent requirements that the dose limit of medicament `be rigorously maintained, it is desirable that the weighing operation be checkedoccasionally.v This checking operation may readily in the following I manner:

With main line switch 48 inclosed position and .l ...c c Lic.

push-button switch 46 in open position so that no powder will be delivered from hopper I and with an empty scoop positioned on beam 3l, the lighting of signal light 48 will signal the operator that the apparatus is in readiness for the checking operation. Assuming that a dose of 420 mg. is to be weighed, a 410 mg. weight is placed in the scoop. If the signal lamp remains lighted, this indicates that 410 mg. is insuiicient to terminate powder discharge and no adjustment is made at this time. On the other hand, if the signal lamp is extinguished by the placement of the 410 mg, weight in the scoop, the apparatus is adjusted by raising vane 43 by means of lever 39 and screws 4l, until the lamp is lighted. The 410 mg. weight is then removed and a weight of 420 mg. is substituted therefor. If the signal lamp 49 is extinguished, no adjustment is necessary as this indicates that when the dose limit of 420 mg. is reached in actual weighing operations, the powder discharge will be cut off. However, if the lamp remains lighted, the apparatus is adjusted by the means above described to lower vane l13 to such a position that the lamp is extinguished. Following this, the 410 mg. weight is replaced in the scoop and if the lamp remains lighted, this indicates that the apparatus is in proper condition to weigh out a dosage amount of 420 mg. of material. That is to say, that the apparatus is now adjusted to between 410 mg. and 420 mg. or, i. e., about 415 mg. The 5 mg. dilierence compensates for the inertia of the deecting parts and the amount of powder which is in midair at the exact time of cut off by vane 43.

Fig. l shows two units such as have been described in the foregoing. The units are arranged side by side and it has been found in practice that an operator can, with efliciency and facility, carry on repeated weighing operations with this dual unit arrangement. While a previously weighed scoop 35 is being discharged into a medicament receptacle, the scoop 35 of the second unit is being lled and by the time the operator has emptied the scoop 35 of the rst unit, the scoop 35 of the second unit will have received the full dose amount.

While the form of apparatus herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that it is not intended to coniine the invention to one form of embodiment herein disclosed for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claim which follows:

What is claimed is:

In a machine for automatically, successively, and repetitively Weighing predetermined small dose amounts of nely powdered medicinals; said machine including a supply hopper for said medicinal having a discharge orifice; means for discharging said medicinal from said orice and means for arresting said discharge when the weight quantity of said predetermined dose amount has been discharged therefrom, the combination of a weighing beam of small mass comprised of a flat spring section xed at one of its ends to one end of a light, rigid section; a scoop; means formed on the opposite end of said rigid section for removably supporting said scoop, the opposite end of said spring section being iXed to an adjustable beam support member mounted below and at such distance to one side of said discharge oriiice as lto cause the beam-supported scoop to lie in spaced relation beneath and in substantial vertical alignment with said discharge orifice for movement in an arcutae path; a stop member adjacent the scoop-supporting end of said rigid section adjustable to arrest the latter against upward movement in said path; means associated with said adjustable beam support to flex said spring section an amount sufcient to preload said beam substantially to the equivalent of the weight of said predetermined small dose amount whereby the arcuate movement of said beam about said support is reduced to a minimum compatible with effecting actuation of said means for arresting discharge of said medicinal, and repetitive dose amount weighing operations are materially expedited; said adjustable beam supp-ort member comprising a rctatably mounted shaft; and said means for iiexing said spring section comprising a lever afiixed at one end to said shaft and opposed adjting screws cooperatively associated with the opposite end o1" said lever to impart adjusting movement thereto and lock said lever in adjusted position.

HENRY F. COFFEY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 66,524 Shaler July 9, 1867 679,968 Inman Aug. 6, 1901 1,233,124 Powers July 10, 1917 1,345,866 Lorenson July 6, 1920 1,364,003 Smith Dec. 28, 1920 1,466,835 Jennings Sept. 4, 1923 1,660,109 Ward Feb. 21, 1928 2,071,443 WeCkeI'ly Feb. 23, 1937 2,095,283 Peale Oct. 12, 1937 2,132,237 Haegele Oct. 4, 1938 2,367,247 Valerino Jan. 16, 1945 2,381,086 Steele Aug. 7, 1945 2,387,894 Fannin Oct. 30, 1945 2,566,210 Kendall Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 604,201 Great Britain June 3 0, 1948 

